Fresh doubts over training of temporary immigration staff

Barely-trained staff were brought in to plug the gaps at Britain’s borders, it
has emerged

Temporary recruits have been issued with memos telling them which countries are members of the European Union, such is the concern about their performance.

They have also had to be reminded to make sure all gates are properly closed, amid claims that some passengers have entered the country without being challenged by immigration officers.

The limitations of the instruction given to hundreds of temporary recruits emerged in an email written by Brian Moore, the outgoing head of the Border Force, which have been seen by The Daily Telegraph.

Responding to complaints from a senior manager about the performance of temporary staff and allegations by whistle-blowers of a series of mistakes over summer, Mr Moore wrote: “No one – including me believes that the training we are giving our contingency staff is anything more than ‘adequate’ for the nature of the role we are asking them to fulfil in the short-term."

Up to 500 extra staff were drafted in to man Britain’s borders over the summer to prevent a repetition of the meltdown during the spring which saw passengers frequently spending more than two hours clearing immigration formalities.

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The Government promised that all immigration desks would be manned at the height of the summer, especially during the Olympics.

To prove the point pictures were taken of the desks at regular intervals, but according to sources inside the Border Force, some of the staff had not been properly trained to handle passengers.

At one point Mr Moore is understood to have adopted what insiders described as a “subs' bench” approach, which meant somebody would be deployed at a desk even if it was not actually used to admit incoming passengers.

Over the summer whistle-blowers have reported a wave of blunders by the temporary recruits.

They include:

- allowing an unaccompanied 12-year-old child into the country without making the necessary checks.

- being unaware which countries are members of the European Union whose citizens should be allowed through a separate channel.

- inability to recognise forged documents

Other problems have also arisen with the deployment of hit squads of immigration officers over the summer.

On several occasions, staff from Edinburgh, Manchester, Luton and Stansted have been sent to Heathrow only to be sent back because of manpower shortages at their own “home” airport.

A Border Force spokesperson denied the country’s security had been put at risk.

"An independent inspection published last month concluded that all staff were fully aware of the checks they needed to conduct and that all checks were being completed.

"It also acknowledged the positive addition of hundreds of extra staff deployed to meet demand, the creation of a central control room to manage resources and ongoing recruitment of more border officers.

"All contingency staff deployed to the border are fully trained and supported by experienced Border Force officers at all times.

"Border Force has already delivered real improvements at Heathrow and is transforming the way it works to deliver improved waiting times and a secure border."

The spokesman later said the inspection took place in April and declined to disclose how many temporary staff were deployed at the time.